ABSTRACT
In a recent report in The New York Times, "Is Social Stability Subverted If You Answer 'I don't'" (Lewin, 2000), the subtitle is, "Fears for Children's Well-Being Complicates a Debate over Marriage" (p. 11). The report states that "about a third of the births in this country are to unmarried mothers." The article further states "over the last few years family scholars have learned that many—perhaps half—of single mothers who give birth are living with the baby's father." It goes on to state, "Whatever their views on marriage, family scholars agree that, for children, two caring adults are better than one: between them they are likely to have more money, more time, more resources in case of emergency. At the same time, there is clear evidence that co-habiting couples break up more often and sooner than married couples, disrupting children's lives."
